Automatic train-stop mechanism



June 9, 1925.

1,540,915 R. WALLACE AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP MECHANISM Filed Junez s Shets-Sheet 1 jior gy June 9, 1925.

L. R. WALLACE AUTOMAITC TRAIN STOP MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m1 In! F1 9 270 my June 9, 1925.

L. R. WALLACE AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP MECHANISM Filed June 2. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [720677 to)" Lewisff. VVZIZ/QCG 3' Patented June 9, ltlgao entree stares rATsur Fr es.

LEWIS n. WALLACE, or WALTHAM, rrassaoi-tusnrrs.

AUTOMATIC TEAIN STOP mncnanrsn.

Application filed June 2,

other obstacle which has an interfering and a non-interfering position through which the brake setting; mechanism is sprung when it is brought in contact by a moving train.

Various equipment for this .partof the system has been devised, including my earlier application of June 3, 1.915, Serial No. 31,932 in which a box of this general type is shown. In my present track box as in my earlier device it will be noted that the tripping obstacle which is to be interposed in the path of the tripper carried by the train is usually an arm counterweighted so that upon its release the weight raises the arm to an interfering position while in noninterfering position the weight is supported usually by an electro-magnetie catch con trolled through track or signal circuits or both.

The resetting of this counterweighted arm is preferably effected through an electric motor, so that when the block is cleared the tripping arm is reset to non-interfering position through the raising of the weight by the motor. I

One of the features of great importance in all train control apparatus as heretofore explained by me in previous applications has been the construction of partsso that breakage in any single parttends to bring the device-to controlling position. In case of track box equipment or the like the structure should have a collapsing tendency upon breakage or otherwise inthe direction of safety, i. e., in the direction of interferingi position for the tripping arm.

.t is furthermore necessary to provide for operating movements effective regardless of any variation in position, wherever the apparatus may have been stopped in phase of its last operation, soas to take up any lost motion in order that each actuating impulse 1920. Serial N0. 385,922.

may effect a complete operation of the parts.

It will be understood that allthe operating); mechanism with the exception of the track trip which is necessarily exposed for actuation by the train-carried trip, is enclosed in a locked housing. In order to prevent unauthorized tampering with the system I provide a novel electro-magnetic latching mechanism, so constructed andarranged as to be incapable? of release except by actual de-energization of the electromagnets. y

The construction is such that even though the track trip be grasped in an effort to'lift it into interfering position, suclrmovement would lee-impossible owing to the positive lock. In the other aspect, the construction is such that with the track trip set :at interfer= ing position it is impossible to force the trip to non-interfermg position even if extra- 7 ordinary pressure, as for example standing on the raised trip, be brought to bear on the L bodied in such structures and which I have combined in novel and practical form, all as will bemore fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings I have shown for the purpose of illustration of my invention a;

track box equipmentfound well adapted to practical use in railroad operation and which shows the principles of my invention involved in this case.

Throughout specification and drawings.

like reference-numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts, and in the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof my removed. V

Fig. 2 1s a side sectional view exposing the interior equipment.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in trip posit-ion.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View of the Fig. 5 is a sectional detailed view of an.

These and other difficulties I have overcome by means whlch may be variously em-' box with cover electric cut-out mechanism which operates, 1

when the trip arm shaft is removedforany cause, to cause the track boxin railroad block next preceding to assumetrip or danger position. V

Fig.5 is a section on the line m-m Fig. 3, and Fi 7 is an end view leaking r m e V right towards the left in Fig. 3 with the end of the box cut away to expose theinterior.

The equipment is housed in a box or casing 1 adapted to be closed by asuitable cover (not shown), and having suitable bearings 2 in which is journaled a transverse shaft 3 having formed integrally on the end' thereof an arm 4 which constitutes a track obstacle or tripping device on the air brake release of the train.

Fast on the shaft 3, seeFigs. 2 and 3, is a weight member .6 which is supported through latches 7 engaged by spring sustained hooks 7 The latches are formed as two lateral projections on the outer faces of the twoarms of the latch fork 8 which itself straddles the disc 55. The latch fork 8 is pivoted at 9 on one face of the weight 6' and normally sustained by a toggle connection 10 and held distendedby a catch lever 12. having a notch 1.2 which is normally hooked under an opposing catch on the armature 1-3. This constitutes the locking system for holding. the weight raised and the arm 4 depressed in. non-interfering position. v

In order to avoid tampering I provide a second. locking systemadapted to hold the arm against unauthorized movement away from interfering position. This lock. consistsof an arm let rocking on. apivot 1'5and counterweighted at 16 soas normally to be tipped" up as shown in Fig. 2, so that it will engage the spur 6 of the counterweight 6 on the shaft of the trip arm.

The trip arm is reset through a motor driven restoring device which raises: the counterweight 6 of the trip arm and also at a suitable phase of the resetting motion raises the cou'nterweigl t 16, so as to'clear the stop 14 in the path of the weightwhile it is being raised.

It is to be understood. at the'outs'et that the tendency of both the counterweight of the tripping arm and the counterweight of the stop 14 is towards safety i. e., away from a position to interfere with the movement of the" parts to set the device in operative position.

The restoring mechanism consists of a disk journaled at 56 within thecasing and carrying a weight lifting roll" on both faces mounted on the. stud. I7 and on one face a pin 18- adapted to be disposed so as on the counterweight 1-6 of the stop 14 and move that stop out of engaging position just as the rolls. 17 begin to pick npthe-counterweight 6.

The disk 55 is driven. through a gear 19 driven by'a. pinion 2O turned by a drive 21 on the shaft o-f'themotor 22.

- There-are two difierent circuit closers in the system which will be next described. These are first the simple switch construction 70 which opens or closesv the shunt circuit isgiven to the motor which is cut in on the main battery circuit from the next block and is operated by the stops and 61 on the counterweight 6; and the seconda safety circuit breaker 30 which is cut in on one line of the track circuit and normally held closed by the shaft 3 of the tripping arm 4 when properly set in its bearings, but releasable in case the shaft 3 is broken or removed from its bearings, either maliciously or forthe purpose of repair.

The, effect; of the circuit breaker 80 is: to set the trip arm of the box on the preceding, section against an oncoming train. The preferred construction of these two devices will be further described later on.

Thecircuit controlling the electro-magnets 11 consists of a lead wire 120 (see Fig. 4) from the binding post of one magnet, one pole at the track battery B and the lead wire 121 on the opposite pole of said battery and the binding post of the other magnet of the pair. This is normally a closed circuit. The locking circuit 120-121 is included in the dominant circuit of the block signal system in any desired manner, as by relay R.

hen the locking circuit is closed and the magnets-11 energized, the latch 7 is held against collapse by the holding toggle 10 through the catch lever 12 which, is hooked on the armature 13 held to the face of the poles of the energized magnets. hen thus held, the. counterweight 6 is supported by the latch 7 on the hook 7 Vhen the circuit 120-421 is broken, the do-ei'lergi'zed magnets l1 release the armature 13,. permitting the collapse of the toggle motor circuit 50-5l in which the switch or circuit breaker is interposed.

lVhen' the circuit I20-121 is restored after a train has left the block, the current 22 through the circuit reaker 70 which had been closed by the contactof the adjustable lug 60' on the counterweight 6 when it haddropped,

'This circuit breaker 70 is again opened and the motor circuit broken by an opposite adjustable lug 61 on the weight 6" as will be hereinafter described.

The circuit breaker 30 is shown in place in F 1 andv in detail in F This device may conveniently be formed as a grav- 'ity operating arm Elpivoted at 3:? in suitill.)

as the rock shaft, trip arm and counterweight are in their proper positions. When bear against the inner ends of a pair of fixed contacts 39 set one on each side of the movable contact 38, and from which extend the lead wires 81 connecting the circuitbreaker 30 with the track circuit governing the preceding box.

In the normal position of the parts, the circuit is closed through the contacts 39 and 39 but when for any reason the free end of the arm 31 is released, the contact linger 39 drops, destroying the electrical contact: between the binding posts of the wires 81 and breaking the track circuit to the electro-magnetic latch in the track box of the preceding block, and allowing'the trip arm of said box toautomatically assume danger position.

Tracing the operations from the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the tripperarm held in non-interfering position, the block being clear, we will presume that a train has passed the track be and entering the block ahead is required lobe protected in the rear.

As soon as the train enters the block the track circuit broken and the current which has been maintaining the magnets 11 in an energized state being taken away, releases the arn'iaturc 13 which permits the collapse of the toggle 10 so that the bar 7' escapes from its supporting hooks and the weight 6 "falls to the position indicated in Fig. 3. I

In falling, the weightturns the shaft. 3 and raises the arm 4 to interfering position. in which position it is locked by the arm 14 which is ten'iporarily tipped up in passing by the fall of the counterweightimn'iediately assumes normal locking position preventing the arm 4t from being forced down accidently or maliciously. The arm therefore stands in interfering position so that the air brake system of a following train will betripped and the brake set for the protection otthe preceding train in the next block ahead. 1

lVhen however the block aheadis cleared so that the line circuit is again unbroken, the trip arm will be restored through the following operations. The weight 6 in fall 6 but which ing brings the adjustable lug 60 in contact with the slide bar ll o1 a circuit closer 70. The circuit closer 70 has an insulated section l2 upon which bear a pair of brushes l3 attached to the binding post a l.

The thrust of the lug 60 against the bar 41 rotates the circuit closer 70, bringing the brushes into contact closing position and completing .the shunt line circuit 505'l through their binding post i l-d l gives to the motor 22 the line current which starts it in rotation and through the pinion 22, and the gear 19 rotates the disk 55 until its rollers 17 comes in contact with the'under faces of the latch fork 8 on the weight which is raised until restored to its position as shown in Fig. 2, when the stop 61 again shifts the bar ll to rotate the circuit breaker 70 and breaks the motor circuit Just before the rolls 1'? engage-the latch fork 8- and begin lifting the weight 6, the pin 18 trips the counterweight 16 by engagement with the shoulder 16 pushing the arm 14L down out of the way. There is suiticient dwell in the engagen'ient of the pin 18 with the counterweight 1G to give the rolls 17 time to lift the toe 6 of the weight 6 clear 01 the end of the arm 14 which of course is raised by the falling of the counterweight 16 as soon as it is released from the pin 18 p y y The toggle 10 which is collapsed on the This ti a

falling of the weight as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2 lmmediately straightens itself out bygravity assisted by the action of springs 10 as soon as-it is released from its strain in supporting the weigh-t (3 so that it is immediately in position to be reengaged by the hook 7 whenever the weight 5 is restored by the motor. 1 i

It will therefore be seen that ina coma paratively simple structure in accordance with my invention there is embodied full provision not only for the setting actuation and resetting of a'sa-i ety tripper, but one guarded against accident or tampering, and all so constructed and disposed asto tend towards an actuation for safety it any internal part breaks or gives away.

Various modifications may of "course be made in the details of structure and design,v and in the arrangen'ients of parts, all with out departing from the spirit ot my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

v lVhat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In automatic combination with a gravity operatingmem'ber therefor, of a lock for said in lowered position.

2. In automatic train stop apparatus, the

train stop apparatus, the

1 track obstacle and a lit! gravity member when in raised position and a lock for said member when lid combinatioiii, with a track] obstacle,- and a. gravity operating member therefor, .of, a lock for said gravity member when, in raised position and a lock for said member when 111 lowered posit-ion, both locks having a releasing action in the direction of position of the apparatus.

3., In automatic train stop apparatus, the combination with a track obstacleand a gravity operating member therefor, of an electromechanical lock for said gravity member when in raised position and a mechanical lock for lowered positiomboth locks having a releasing action in the direction of the safety the safety 7 oosition of the a 3 )aratus and said mechanical latch automatically applied and released by the movement of from one to the, other of its positions,

a. In automatic train stop mechanism, in combination with a block signal. system, a track obstacle in each block, a gravity operating member therefor, a. lock normally maintaining saidtra-ck obstacle in safety position, and asupplementary lock permitting the track. obstacle in the block behind to assume danger position in the event of removal of the. gravity member from the track obstacle in the immediately precedingblock.

' 5. In automatic train stop mechanism, in combination with a track obstacle in each block, a gravity operating member therefor, a lock normally maintaining said track obstacle-in safety position, and a supplementar I lock permitting the track obstacle in the block behind to assumedanger position in the event of removal of the gravity member from thetrack obstacle in the immediately preceding block, and comprising an, arm normallydisposed in movement-arresting relation to said track obstacle in the immediately preceding block and an electro-magnetic latch for said arm.

6. In automatic train stop mechanism, in combination with a block signal system, a track obstacle in each block, a gravity operating member therefor, and a lock for said? track obstacle in each block constructed. and arranged to permit the track obstacle in the block behind to assume danger position inthe event of removal of the gravity member. 7. In automat1c train stop mechanism, a track obstacle, a counter-weight therefor, a

latch pivotally mounted upon said we -ht,

a resetting member rotatable relative to said latch, V latch, a toggle secured to said latch, an armature releasably engaging said toggle, an

electro-magnetcooperative with said armature, and a welght restoring element mountsaid member when in.

the gravity member block signal system, a.

a. hook normally engaging said ed on said resetting member for elevating action upon said latch.

8.. In automatic train stop mechanism, a

track. obstacle, a counter-weight therefor, a forked, latch pivotally mounted upon said Weight, a'resetting member rotatable between the forks of said latch, a hook normally engaging said latch, a toggle secured to. said latch, an armature releasably engaging said toggle, an electromagnetmounted upon said weight and cooperative with said armature, and a weight restoring element mounted on said resetting member for elevating action upon said latch. 9; In 'au-tomatictrain stop mechanism, a track obstacle, a gravity operating member therefor, an electro-magnetic' latch for locking saidgravity member in raised position, a mechanical latch for locking said gravity member in lowered positio including a gravity locking member normally tending toward the safety position of the apparatus, a predominant circuit in which said electro-magnetielatch is included, a resetting circuit subject to said predominant circuit, a resetting motor included in said resetting circuit, and power transmitting connections from said motor to said gravity member including a member having an elementadapted for restoring action upon the gravity member and a second element adapted for tripping engagement with the mechanical latch to release said latch and permitrestoration of the gravity member.

10. In automatic train stop mechanism, a track obstacle, therefor, an el'ectro-magnetic latch, mounted upon said gravity member and including a system of toggle links for locking said gravity member in raised position, a mechanical latch for locking said gravity member in lowered position, including a gravity locking member normally tending toward the safety position of the apparatus, a predominant circuit in which said electromagnetic latch is included, a resetting circuit subjectto said predominant circuit, a resetting motor included in said resetting circuit, and power transi-nitting con'nccti ns from said motor to said gravity inen'iber, in

cluding a. rotatable member having an elcment adapted for r storing action upon the gravity member and a second element adaptved for tripping engagement with the me chanical latch to release said latch and permit restorationof the gravity member.

Intestiinony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEIVIS R. WALLACE. Vitnesses: a WARD KEENE, GEORGE B. RAWLINcs- 

